Thread tension regulating apparatus



March 16, 1937. W, SUYDAM 2,074,096

THREAD TENSION REGULATING APPARATUS Filed March 1'7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 16, 1937. w SUYDAM 2,074,096

THREAD TENSION REGULATING APPARATUS Filed March 17, 1934 2 Shets-Sheet 2 IT? :a l 5; J6

i 1 i I l I a I 5 52 Patented Mar. 16, 1937 THREAD TENSION REGULATING APPARATUS William Farrington Suydam, Hawley, Pa., as-

signor oi eighty per cent to Louise D. Suydam, Hawley, Pa., and twenty per cent to Earl D. Deremer, Montclail N. J.

Application March 17,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the art of twisting and spinning threads and more particularly to improvements for and methods of maintaining constant tension on threads during the twisting operation.

In one form of mechanism for twisting thread, the thread is unwound from a member rotating on a vertical axis and wound onto another member rotating on a horizontal axis, above the other member. In order that the thread may be twisted in its passage from one member to the other under tension, it has been customary heretofore to employ a rotating guide member through which the threads pass, such member known in the art as a flyer being positioned to rotate on the same vertical axis as the vertical member but at a higher rate of speed than the member from which the thread is being unwound. This increased speed is accomplished by rotating the vertical member in such direction that normally thread would be wound upon it. Due to the interposition of the rotating guide member, the thread is unwound from this vertical member by the guide member which is rotating faster due to the pull exerted by the horizontal member onto which the thread is being wound. The tension on the thread in this arrangement however is not maintained constant, since the thread is originally wound spirally onthe member rotating on .a vertical axis and consequently as the position.

at which the thread leaves the rotaing member travels up and down this member, the tension on the thread due to the friction caused by its passage through the rotating guide or flyer varies. In other words, when the thread is leaving the vertical rotating member near the top thereof and adjacent to the rotating guide, the angle of travel of the thread from the rotating member through the guide and up to the horizontally rotating take-up member is sharper than is the angle when the thread is leaving the rotating member near the bottom thereof. This change in angularity of the path of the thread naturally increases the friction of the thread against the wall of the rotating guide so that the tension on the thread will vary. Variation in tension of the thread causes variation in the take-up or contraction of the thread during twisting, with the result that some parts of the thread may be,

contracted the desired amount while other parts will be contracted more or less than the desired amount so that the thread is not of uniform structure over any considered length.

In other forms of twisting or spinning mech-' anism, thread is fed from suitable mechanism,

1934, Serial No. 716,152

such as drawing rolls, and then wound upon a member rotating on a vertical axis. Thus it may be said that the travel of the thread is from horizontal to vertical, or in other words, the mechanisms employ a reversal of thread travel relative to that just described. With this latter type of mechanism use is made of a ring which moves up and down relative to the upright rotating member, and this ring is provided with a traveller or guide which can rotate around the ring. The thread passes through the guide and is wound onto the rotating member with the result that due to relation of speeds and other factors, the traveller rotates in the same direction as the rotating member but at a slower speed. The tension on the thread in this arrangement is not maintained constant however due to the up and down movement of the ring, so that the twist and take-up of the thread during twisting in' this operation is not uniform. While the ring has been described as moving up and down relative to the bobbin or other member on which the thread is to be wound, similar mechanisms employ arrangements in which the rotating member, such as a bobbin, etc., moves up and down relative to a ring or fiyer.

An object of the invention is to provide methods for maintaining constant tension on thread during twisting or spinning thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for applying uniform tension to thread during twisting thereof.

In carrying out the objects of the present invention, use is made of a rotating guide through which the thread passes from one member to another, or in other words from a delivery member to a'take-on member. In addition to this rotating guide, use is made of a second guide which is capable of limited rotation independently of the first guide. The second guide, which may be called a floating guide, is so constructed that it offers such resistance to rotation as to apply a drag of predetermined quantity on the thread during its travel, which quantity is in excess of all other drag imposed upon the thread due to friction or other causes, such as ballooning of the thread, etc. The resistance to rotation of the floating guide may be secured by constructing this guide in such fashion that the wind resistance thereof is sufiicient to cause the floating guide to lag behind the first guide while the twoare being rotated.

In one form of the invention use is made of a block to be secured on a spindle above a spool or bobbin thereon for free rotation about the spindle.

This block has rigidly secured thereto a guide member in the nature of a wire arm extending outwardly from the block and then downwardly to terminate in a loop. A wire without a drop arm can be used or various other types can be used. Preferably for purpose of balance, a second arm opposite to the first is provided, it being understood that only one of the pair will be in use at one time. The floating guide is also securedto the block, but is so secured thereto as to be capable of rotation therearound to any desired limited extent. Various constructions may be utilized to secure the results desired, namely, free rotation of the floating guide relative to the block. In the preferred form of the invention the floating guide has a diametrically oppositely extending portion serving as a balance, and also this balancing portion may be so constructed as to offer considerably more resistance to rotation than the arm fixed to the block. To accomplish this increased wind resistance, the balancing portion may be a wire of larger diameter than the wire in the arm fixedly secured to the block or the balan'cing portion may be in the nature of a fiat strip with its broadest side facing the direction of travel thereof.

In another form of the invention a guide member is provided for rotation relative to a part of the frame of the spinning or twisting mechanism, such guide taking the place of the usual ring and traveller employed in spinning frames. In this embodiment of the invention use is made of a second guide rotatable independently of the first guide and so constructed as to offer more resistance to rotation than the first guide. Thus when thread passes through the two guides in series a tension determined by the resistance of the second arm to rotation is applied to the thread so that inequalities in tension due to operating factors will be eliminated. This construction can be used in arrangements in which the bobbin or other member upon which the thread is being wound moves up and down relative to the guides or in structures in which the guides move up and down relative to the bobbin.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description read in the light of the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a twisting mechanism having one embodiment oi. the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation, partially broken away, of the same mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partially broken away, of a modified form of the invention as employed in a slightly different mechanism for twisting or spinning thread; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the invention in its modified form.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, i0 indicates generally a spindle of conventional character supported in suitable bearings and rotated by an endless belt passing over the whorl ii. The spindle is tapered uniformly to receive a spool l2, tlie bore of which is also tapered so that a spool fits on the spindle tightly enough to cause it to rotate with the spindle. While the invention is shown in conjunction with a spool, it will be evident that other rotating members upon which thread is wound can be used, such as bobbins, quills, cones, tubes, cops, etc.

In order that thread may be unwound from the spool l2 under tension, use is made of a guide member l5 formed as a loop at the end of a bent arm l6 which is secured to a block l1 freely rotatable about the spindle ID.' The arm i6 may be secured to the block I'I in any suitable fashion so long as it maintains a fixed relation to the block with the result that rotation .of either the arm or the block about the spindle will cause rotation of the other. In the form shown, the block I1 is made in two parts, a lower part is and an upper part 19. The lower part 13 is provided with a groove 20 from which the fixed arm l6 extends. The arm i6 is balanced by an opposite arm 2i and guide 22. Only one of these guides will be in use at any instance. If desired, the arms 21 and I6 may be made integrally from a single piece of wire which has a bend 24 therein fitting against the vertical wall of the groove 20 and held in place by means of pins 25 passing between the horizontal walls of the groove 20.

The lower block I8 is provided with a portion 26 of reduced diameter around which fits a ring 21, preferably made of metal but which may be of any suitable material. This ring is of such size as to be freely rotatable about the block. A part of the bore of the lower member i8 is enlarged and threaded as at 28. The top member l9 has a sleeve portion 29 externally threaded to fit threads 28. This top part l9 has a portion 30 overlying the ring 21. The two members l8 and I9 of the block may be made of any suitable material but preferably they are made of some material which will not produce undue friction when the block rotates about the spindle. In practice it has been found that the parts may be made of wood, boiled or soaked in oil, with admirable results.

Extending rigidly outwardly from the ring 21 is a rigid arm 3| preferably but not necessarily made of some material which is of light weight, the arm being so constructed as to possess more wind resistance than either of the arms [8 or 2|. In the drawings this arm 3i has been shown as being made of flattened material with the widest surface facing in the horizontal direction. Extending diametrically oppositely from the arm 3| is a short arm 32 made of wire or of some suitable material. If desired this arm 32 can extend a distance substantially equal to the length of the arm 3|. In the arrangement shown, however, the arm 32 terminates in an eye 34 within which is secured an eye 35 on the end of a wire 36 which has a guide loop 31 at the other end thereof. This construction of swiveled eyes permits of limited movement in various directions of the guide loop 31. The arms 3i and 32 are both rigidly secured to the ring 21 so that the ring and the arms rotate together.

In order that rotation of the arms relative to the block can be controlled or limited, the overhanging portion of the upper member I9 is provided with a number of holes 38 in alignment with similar holes 33 in the partition between the up of the block I! and the various arms is then placed with the bore thereof surrounding the upper part of the spindle and with the bottom of the block resting on the top of the spool l2. The block is then looked in place by means of a suitable friction nut 4| or by any other equivalent mechanism. The thread to be unwound from the spool l2 and to be twisted, is passed flrst through the eye or guide I! in the end of the arm i6 fixed to the block and then through the guide 51 in the end of the floating arm 36. This arm as shown in Fig. 2 will, when the spindle is stationary, rest on top of the spool II. The thread then passes upwardly to the member upon which it is to be wound, which member ordinarily rotates on a horizontal axis. The thread is so wound upon the vertical spool that rotation of the spool in a counter-clockwise direction (when viewed from the top as in Fig. 1) would normally cause the thread to be wound or tightened on the spool. With the parts in proper position, power is applied to run the spindle and the spool in this counter-clockwise direction. At the same time the member upon which the thread is to be wound after being twisted, is rotated in proper relation to the speed of the spindle l0. As a result of the rotation of the member (not shown) upon which the thread is to be wound, tension is applied to the thread, which tension causes the fixed arm l6 to be rotated in the same direction as the spool is rotated but at an increased speed, dependent entirely upon the length of thread to be removed from the spool in a given time interval. As soon as this tension is applied to the thread, the arm 56 is lifted until it assumes the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 in which position it is mantained partially by the tension on the thread I is greater than any other drag which may be applied to the thread due to friction or other causes. As the spindle and the block, which may be called a flyer, rotate in the same direction, the

thread will be twisted while it is between the floating guide 51 and the point at which the thread comes into contact with the member on which it is being wound or at any point where the twisting is checked. It is desirable that this distance in which twisting takes place remains constant under all conditions, and that the thread be under the same tension at all times in order that the take-up or contraction of the thread in the process of twisting will be uniform. The floating arm assures that these conditions will be maintained.

As long as the thread is removed from the roll with no tendency for variation of tension, the fixed and floating arms will maintain their spaced apart relation. However the tension on the thread tends to vary as the point of removal of the thread from the spool travels up and down on the spool due to the spiral winding of the thread on the spool. In other words, in the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the point of departure of the thread from the spool is in the top thereof, the sharpest angle of band in the thread as it passes through the guide l5 ismet. This sharp angle necessarily causes an increase in friction of the thread as it passes through the guide l5 thereby tending to apply greater tension on the thread. Such increase in tension will tend to move the fixed arm and the floating arm toward each other, overcoming to some extent, the wind resistance of the floating arm. However as the point of departure of the thread from the spool approaches the bottom of the spool, the angle of the thread passing through the guide l5 becomes broaderso that less pull is required, and, consequently, friction is reduced. When these conditions occur, the fixed guide and the floating guide become more separated due to the wind resistance of the floating arm. Thus the expanse of thread between the floating arm and the winding position above the spindle remains under substantially the same v tension at all times so that a uniform number of turns per unit of length are developed in the thread and the thread is contracted uniformly. This naturally causes the finished thread to be of uniform character throughout its length. The floating arm also serves to offset for any variation in tension due to ballooning of the thread or for any variation intension due to any other factors. brake acting on the top of the spool when the spool is being brought to rest.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the invention is shown in modified form as being applied to a mechanism commonly known in the art as a spinning frame. In this construction use is made of a spindle 50 upon which may be secured frictionally a bobbin 5|. Of course if desired a spool, quill, cone, cop or tube could be used in the place of a bobbin. Frame members are indicated at 52 from which extend upwardly supporting members 54 secured at their top to a hollow tube 55 of some good anti-friction material, such as porcelain or the like. Freely rotatable about the tube 55 on anti-friction bearings are rings 56 and 51. These rings may be made of some suitable metal and the anti-friction bearings may be in the nature of ball bearings as shown. Extending downwardly from the lowermost rings 55 is a wire 59 having a guide loop 50 in the end thereof. Extending downwardly from the ring 51 is a member 6| having a guide loop 62 in the end thereof. This member Bl corresponds with the floating arm 36 in the previous embodiment of the invention, but since no counter-balancing arm is provided, the arm 61 is shaped more in correspondence with the balancing arm 3I,;being made either fiat as shown to have greater wind resistance or being made of some material of considerably larger diameter than the wire 59. It will be evident that various constructioiis may be utilized, always bearing in mind that the primary purpose to be observed is that the arm 5| must have considerably more wind resistance than the arm 59, or vice versa. The lower ring 55 is provided with holes 65 into any of which may be inserted a stop 66 extending into the path of the arm 5| to limit rotation thereof relative to arm 6|. Additional rings and thread guide arms can be provided in this construction if deemed necessary without departing from the spirit of the invention.

If the spinning mechanism is of the type in which the bobbin moves up and down relative to the frame members 52, no further equipment will be necessary. However, if the mechanism is of the character in which the portions of the frame 52 as well as the supports 54 move up and down relative to the bobbin, then it may be desirable to provide a guide member above the hoilow cylinder 55, such guide member being supported by extensions 10 from the supports 54, the

The hinged floating arm serves as a guide member being indicated at II. Thus this member II will move up and down simultaneously with the support 54 and the various guide loops.

The operation of this embodiment of the in- 5 vention is substantially as follows: If the bobbin isthe movable element, the untwisted thread coming from the drawing rolls (not shown) or from any other source, will pass vertically downward through the hollow cylinder 55, then through the guide loops 62 of the arm M, then through the guide loop 80 and onto the bobbin. When the bobbin is rotated at the proper speed, the passage of the thread through the various guide loops will cause these guide loops, and

consequently the rings to which they are attached, to rotate about the axis defined by the hollow tube 55 in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the bobbin at a reduced speed. This rotation of the guide loops is caused by the same forces that cause rotation of a traveller about a ring in a conventional ring spinning frame. However, the arm 6| as shown is made of such construction as to possess considerably more wind resistance than the arm 59 so that this arm 6| impresses a predetermined drag upon the thread, which drag is so designed as to be in excess of any drag impressed upon the thread at other points by friction or other factors. Thus as in the previous embodiment, the

- predetermined drag on the thread applies a definite tension thereon, and as a more important consideration, the expanse of thread in which twisting occurs (between the guide 62 and some higher point) will be kept at a fixed length and will be under uniform tension so that a uniform take-up of the thread during the twisting operation will occur. In other words, a unit length of untwisted thread will be twisted into a shorter unit length of finished thread and the units will 40 remain uniform throughout the operation. Should there be a tendency at any point in the system for the tension to decrease, the arms 59 and Bi will become more separated so that the thread between the guide 62 and the point of 45 withdrawal will remain under the predetermined tension. On the other hand, should there be a tendency for the tension at' any point in the system to increase, the arms 59 and Si will be drawn together, still maintaining the desired con- 50 stant tension.

If the mechanism with which the invention is employed is of the type in which the bobbin remains fixed so far as vertical movement is concerned and other parts of the frame move up and 55 down relative to the bobbin, it may be desirable to employ the moving guide H in order that the fixed distance in which twisting and take-up occurs will be maintained. Thus as the supports 54 move up and down relative to the bobbin, the

60 distance in which twisting occurs will be between the floating guide 52 and the movable guide H. In some instances it may be desirable to impose more tension than the arm 6i can provide, in which case the third arm 64 will be utilized.

65 The thread will pass through the guide in the end of this arm prior to passing through the other guides.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention in any form illustrated,

70 achieves new and useful results in the art of twisting or spinning threads. As the result of the use of the two or more arms, one or more of which possess greater wind resistance than the other, it is possible to produce as a finished article,

75 a thread which is of uniform size throughout its length. This uniformity of sizes results directly from the application of uniform tension on the thread while the same is being spun or twisted. Thus, such uniformity of tension will cause a uniformity of take-up in the thread during the twisting or spinning, or in other words, a definite unit length of thread will be twisted into a shorter definite unit of length. The factors to be observed in carrying out the invention reside chiefly in the provision of at least two guide members, one of which serves as an equalizer of tension or serves to apply a predetermined tension on the thread which will not be varied so far as the working area of the thread is concerned by variation of tension at other points. By working area or length of thread it is to be understood that the length of thread being twisted under uniform tension is meant.

While the invention has been shown in one form as embodying a pair of arms secured for relative rotation to each other to a single block and in another form has been shown as embodying arms fixed to rotatable rings which are rotatable independently of each other, it is to be understood that the structures so far as the twisting mechanisms are concerned are more or less interchangeable and therefore no limitations as to exact structure are to be imposed on the invention. The only requirement necessary for satisfactory operation is that each arm and g de be rotatable independently of the member on which the thread is being wound or from which it is being unwound, and that the two or more arms or guides be capable of limited rotation relative to each other. It is also necessary that the guide or guides which serve to equalize thread tension must be of such construction that wind resistance and other considerations, such as friction, tension due to ballooning of the thread, etc. will cause this guide and arm to which it is attached to impress a predetermined drag on the thread at all times.

I claim:

1. The combination with a rotating member having thread moving relatively with respect thereto, of a guide freely rotatable substantially on the same axis as said rotating member, and a second guide freely rotatable on the same axis as the first guide, said thread passing successive- 1y through said guides in its relative movement, one of said guides offering more resistance to rotation than the other.

2. The combination with a rotating member having thread moving relatively with respect thereto, of a guide freely rotatable substantially on the same axis as said rotating member, and a second guide freely rotatable on the same axis as the first guide, said thread passing successively through said guides in its relative movement, one of said guides offering more resistance to rotation than the other, said guides being independently rotatable, and means for limiting the rotation of one relative to the other.

3. The combination with a member rotating on a vertical axis and having thread moving relatively with respect thereto, of an arm having a thread guide in the end thereof and being mounted for free rotation about a vertical axis, a second arm having a thread arm in the end thereof and being mounted to rotate freely on substantially the same axis as the first arm, one of said arms offering more resistance to rotation than the other, the thread passing through said guides successively in its relative movement.

4. The combination with a member rotating on a vertical axis and having thread moving rela-, tively, with respect thereto,- of an arm having a thread guide in the end thereof and being mounted for free rotation about a vertical axis, a second arm having a thread guide in the end thereof and being mounted to rotate freely on substantially the same axis as the first arm, one of said arms offering more resistance to rotation than the other, the thread passing through said guides successively in its relative movement, said arms being mounted for independent rotation, and means for limiting the rotation of one arm relative to the other. a

5. The combination with a rotating member and 1.5 having thread moving relatively with respect thereto, of a plurality of arms having thread guides in the ends thereof through. which said thread passes successively, said arms being mounted-for free independent rotation substantially coaxially with said rotating member, one of said arms offering less resistance to rotation than the others, and means forlimiting the rotation of the arms relative to each other. 6. The combination with a member rotating on a vertical axis and having thread moving relatively with respect-thereto, of a plurality of arms. having thread guides in the ends thereof through which said thread passes successively, said arms being mounted .for free independent rotation substantially coaxially with the rotating member and above said member, one of said arms offering 1 less resistance to rotation than the others, and means for limiting the rotation of the arms relative to each other.

member rotating on a vertical axis, an arm above the member rotating on the vertical axis andfreely rotatable on a vertical axis, said am having a thread guide in the end thereof, a second arm freely rotatable substantially coaxially with the first arm and having a thread guide in the end thereof, said thread passing through said guides successively, one of said arms offering greater resistance to rotationthan the other. 8. In asystem wherein thread passes from a member rotating on a vertical axis, an arm above the member rotating'on the vertical axis and freely rotatable on a vertical axis, said arm having a thread guide in the end thereof, a second, arm freely rotatablesubstantially coaxially with the first arm and having a thread guide in the end thereof, saidthread passing through said guides successively, said second arm oflering greater resistance to rotation than the first arm. 9. In a system wherein thread passes from a member rotating on a vertical axis, an arm above the member rotating on the vertical axis and freely rotatable on a vertical axis, said arm having a thread guide in the end thereof; a second arm freely rotatable substantially coaxially with the first arm and having a thread guide in the end thereof, said-thread passing through said guides successively, said second 'arm offering greater resistance torotation than the first arm,

'7. In a system-wherein thread passes from a whereby a uniform tension is imposed on the thread between said second guide and a point thereabove.

'10. In a system wherein thread passes from a member on a spindle rotating on a vertical axis, a pair of arms having thread guides in the ends thereof through which said thread passes successively, said arms being mounted for free 'independent rotation on said spindle above said member rotating therewith, one of said arms offering a predetermined greater resistance to rotation than the other, and means for limiting the rotation of one arm relative to the other.

11. In a system wherein thread passes downwardly to be wound around a member rotating on a vertical axis, arms having thread guides in the end thereof mounted above said rotating member, said arms being independently rotatable on a vertical axis, one of said arms offering greater resistance to rotation than the other,

said arms and said rotating member being mounted for relative up and down movement.

12. In a system wherein thread passes downwardly to be wound around a member rotating on a vertical axis, arms having thread guides in the end thereof mounted above said rotating member, said arms being independently rotatable on a vertical axis, one of said arms offering greater resistance to rotation than the other, said arms being mounted for up and down movement relative to said rotating member.

13. In a system wherein thread passes. downwardly to be wound around a member rotating on a vertical. axis, arms having thread guides in the end thereof mounted above said rotating member, said arms being independently rotatable on a vertical axis, one of said arms offering greater resistance to rotation than the other, said rotating member being mounted for up and down movement relative to said arms.

14. In a'system wherein thread passes downwardly to be wound on a member rotating on a vertical axis, a plurality of arms mounted above said rotating member for rotation coaxially about a vertical axis, each arm being provided with a thread guide, said thread passing through said guides successively, one of said arms offering less resistance to rotation than the others, said arms and rotating member being mounted for relative up anddown movement, and means for limiting the rotation of said arms relative to each other. v

v 15. A tension regulating device of" the type described comprising a block having a .central bore,

an arm extending fixedly outwardly from said block and having a thread guide in the end thereof, a second arm extending outwardly from said block and secured thereto forrotation about. the block, said second arm having a thread guide in theend thereof and being of such construction as to offer greater resistan'ceto rotation than the first arm.

WILLIAM FARRING'I'ON SUYDAM. 

